The Memphis Grizzlies are entering a new era without Ja Morant, and Ty Jerome wasted little time making a statement of his own. Jerome delivered a historic performance Wednesday night, scoring a career-high 45 points to lead Memphis to a commanding 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz in its season opener. The veteran guard finished 17-of-25 from the field, including five 3-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and six assists.
His 45 points established a new franchise record for the most points scored in a season opener, surpassing the previous mark of 44 set by Morant in 2020. Jerome also became just the fourth player in league history to score at least 40 points for the first time in his career during a season opener. He joined Morant, Nick Anderson and NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain in accomplishing the feat.
The record-breaking performance comes at a significant moment for Memphis, which traded Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers during the offseason. Morant spent seven seasons with the Grizzlies, earning two All-Star selections and establishing himself as one of the NBA's most electrifying guards. With Morant gone, Jerome has stepped into a larger role as Memphis looks to build around its younger players.
And if Wednesday's performance was any indication, the Grizzlies may have found an unexpected offensive leader. Jerome's scoring helped Memphis take control against Utah, particularly during a dominant third quarter. The Grizzlies opened the second half with an 18-4 run, extending their advantage to 27 points and putting the game out of reach.
Jerami Grant, who arrived in the trade that sent Morant to Portland, contributed 15 points, while GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells added 12 apiece. The Jazz were led by Keyonte George's 22 points, while Lauri Markkanen finished with 18. Jerome's performance even drew some MVP chants from the Memphis crowd, an impressive reception for a player beginning his first season as the team's starting point guard.
Although one game won't determine the direction of the Grizzlies' rebuild, Jerome provided an encouraging glimpse of what Memphis could accomplish in its new chapter. With Morant no longer leading the franchise, Jerome now has an opportunity to establish his own identity in Memphis. And after breaking a record previously held by the former face of the franchise, he couldn't have asked for a much better start.
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